Dhanbad, Jan. 27: Laying the foundation stone of the Barhi- Hazaribag, Chas-Ramgarh and Barwadda- Chordaha National Highways on Tuesday, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the state will have 5300 km length of national highways, an increase from 2600 km.
He said that foundation stone is being laid for Rs. 6000 crore national highways in the state, but very soon different areas will be connected with national highways. Gadkari laid foundation stone for 2, 4 and 6 lane 271 km roadways with the estimated cost of Rs. 5100 crore.
Gadkari said that very soon a bridge will be constructed on Sahabganj on the Ganga River with the cost of Rs. 2,000 crore. Moreover, construction work worth Rs. 50,000 crore will commence by December 2016.
Sahabganj will be developed into a smart city if the state government provides adequate land for the project. He said that his department plans to build 12 railway bridges in the state. However, the state government should prepare DPR for different roads and assured that the central government will extend every possible help.
Praising the Raghubar Das government for doing a good job in the state, the Union minister said that the state government should acquire land for constructing ring roads in Dhanbad and the central government will bear the expenses.
Reckoning the priorities of the central government, Gadkari said that the Centre intends to provide electricity, irrigation and water to the farmers. Urea can be produced in the closed down coal mines of Jharkhand and the central government is working in this area. Under this, the Union government will give the farmers 50 perent subsidy on urea.
Gadkari said that Jharkhand very rich in mineral resources and mineral-based industries are coming up rapidly in the state. According to him, 50 lakh people will be employed with the investment of Rs. 50,000 crore.
Referring to the day as historic, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that it is first time that the government has given such a huge amount for development of the state. Thanking the central government for this, Das said that roads are life-line and the way to development can be undertaken through this only.
Several ministers and dignitaries including state minister for drinking water and sanitation Chandra Prakash Choudhary, land and revenue minister Amar Kumar Bauri, MPs. P. N. Singh, Rabindra Kr. Pandey, M. J. Akbar, Savithri Das Fulley, MLAs Manish Jaiswal, Jagganath Mahto, Manoj Kr. Yadav, Yogeshwar Mahto Batul, Yogendra Mahto, Dhullu Mahto, Sanjeev Singh, Raj Sinha, Viranchi Narayan, Mayor of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation Shekhar Agrawal, president and secretary of Dhanbad Zila Parishad and principal secretary of road construction department Rajbala Verma were present on this occasion.